Crimson Peak Blu-ray review & Exclusive clip!

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Written by: Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins

Starring: Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Charlie Hunnam

From Cronos to Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth to Pacific Rim you’re always guaranteed a visual treat when Guillermo del Toro is on board and Crimson Peak keeps that beauty flowing in all its dark and striking gloriousness.

Our lead role sees Mia Wasikowska play young Edith Cushing, an aspiring author who’s definitely talented but also seemingly lost in the romanticism and daydream of the worlds she creates. Living in New York, she’s the apple of her Father’s eye and is looked after but affectionately and honestly. One night, he’s mysterious murdered in more than suspicious circumstances that offer us up a brutal murder scene that involves a sink and a head – You’ll see.

Crimson Peak is a mixed bag of unique magnificence alongside graphically outstanding set-pieces but on the narrative side the plot progression is reasonably predictable. After the death of Edith’s Father, she’s courted and escorted out of the Big Apple by Tom Hiddleston’s mystery man Thomas Sharpe to his home Allerdale Hall, which resides in the middle of nowhere. He’s perfect for the role, all brooding and wonderfully styled to suit the surroundings but with an extra edge that makes him figuratively and literally stand out. On the other side of Thomas is his sister Lucille, played out as effortlessly elegant and evil by Jessica Chastain. Her character is more shadowy than Hiddleston’s and it’s hard to work out whether they’re related, or married, or connected in another way despite the same surname. Their relationship is equally doubtful for Wasikowska’s Edith, who has only taken this trip to nowhere with the promise of love and life from Thomas. As her stay continues, she’ll learn that different rooms bring forth new unknowns and eventually even more unexpected secrets. This is where we learn that the mansion is the centre piece of everything, that’s clear to see. From its stark surroundings to the awe-inspiring entrance hall, complete with leaves falling through the ceiling and a roaring fireplace, all the atmospherics give it a life of its own.

Although it obviously edges on gothic horror, Crimson Peak is more gothic fantasy with a thriller component. There are the deathly images of ghosts literally creeping through the halls of the old Hall and in many, literal senses, the house is alive but its exquisiteness outweighs its evil and you can relate to how any character could get trapped and pulled in. Despite great performances from all three leads, including a strange crossover for Mia as certain scenes emulate her Alice in Wonderland character, the design and realisation of this is where Crimson Peak really excels. Guillermo del Toro has created another distinctive world and even with the dark, creaking corridors and blood-red walls, it’s something you might easily find yourself wanting to be a part of.

Crimson Peak is available on Blu-ray™ and DVD today, courtesy of Universal Pictures (UK) and you can watch our exclusive clip below, which features Charlie Hunnam, talking about the making of Allerdale Hall.